Method for changing performance controlling parameter for mobile telecommunication terminal

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a method for changing a performance controlling parameter of a mobile telecommunication terminal, in which the parameter is changed by using an SMS message of the mobile telecommunication terminal. The method preferably includes receiving a short message including a performance controlling parameter to be changed and applying the performance controlling parameter to the mobile telecommunication terminal. When the parameters which control a performance of the mobile telecommunication terminal by a change of the mobile telecommunication system are changed or when the performance controlling parameter of the mobile telecommunication terminal is to be changed by a need of the mobile telecommunication provider/manufacturer, on-line A/S is possible and a cost generated by off-line A/S can be reduced.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a mobile telecommunication terminal,and more particularly to a method for changing a performance controllingparameter for a mobile telecommunication terminal using a short messageservice (SMS).

2. Background of the Related Art

The short message service (SMS) was developed by taking advantage of thedigital architecture of modern mobile telecommunication networks.Specifically, digital data can be transmitted throughout the mobiletelecommunication network. The SMS allows for transmission ofcharacters, such as numbers, letters, and other symbols, in the form ofa short message. Thus, a user can send and receive a short sentence of80-160 bytes using a mobile communication terminal, without requiringadditional equipment.

Usage of SMS has increased dramatically in recent times, as greaternumbers of people have begun using mobile communications. Unlike e-mail,an SMS message is transmitted to a recipient almost instantaneously uponits being sent. Hence, SMS has become firmly rooted as a means oftelecommunication. Additionally, various information services employ SMSto transmit information such as weather forecasts, news reports, andstock market information. Moreover, the SMS message can include both anorigination number and a message.

Usage of SMS has also expanded into the realm of electronic commercialtransactions and/or electronic settlements. For example, SMS can be usedwith credit card companies to transmit transaction approval content to amobile telecommunication terminal. Among other benefits, such acommercial use can prevent unauthorized credit card transactions.

FIG. 1 illustrates a construction of an SMS system of a general mobiletelecommunication network. As shown in FIG. 1, the SMS system includes amobile telecommunication terminal 1 with software therein that supportsthe SMS, an SMS message center 4 for routing a short message transmittedthrough a base station 2 and an exchanger 3, and an SMS server 5 wherean application program for various additional services connected to anexternal network is mounted.

An operation of the SMS system will next be described. First, a shortmessage that has been transmitted by a user through the mobiletelecommunication terminal 1 is transmitted to the exchanger 3 throughthe base station 2. The exchanger 3 certifies that the transmittedmessage is an SMS message and transmits it to the message center 4. Themessage center 4 determines to where the message has to be transmittedby using a destination telephone number of the short message and therebyperforms a routing.

The SMS provided through the above system is typically transmitted usingeither a point-to-point service or a broadcasting service.

Point-to-point service is a service for sending a short message to auser of a specified mobile telecommunication terminal to which reliabletransmission is possible. That is, the message center checks a state ofthe destination mobile telecommunication terminal and completes atransmission of the short message according to the determined state.

Broadcasting service is a service for sending a short message to each ofa plurality of mobile telecommunication terminals in a group. The groupcan be established in any manner, such as based on region information orsubscription information. In the broadcasting service, since the shortmessage is simultaneously transmitted to the group of users, if a givenuser turns the power of the mobile telecommunication terminal off or ifthe user's line is busy, the corresponding short message will not bereceived.

The related art system and method have various problems, For example,the related art mobile telecommunication terminal has to be upgraded byoff-line A/S in order to control special performance features or tochange a parameter used to realize the performance.

That is, in order to change the parameter which controls the performanceof the mobile telecommunication terminal, the entire software has to beupgraded. Also, when the performance is required to be changed by themobile telecommunication provider or the mobile telecommunicationterminal provider, the user has to visit an agent or a customer servicecenter to receive the off-line A/S.

The above references are incorporated by reference herein whereappropriate for appropriate teachings of additional or alternativedetails, features and/or technical background.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is to solve at least the above problemsand/or disadvantages and to provide at least the advantages describedhereinafter.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a system andmethod for changing a performance controlling parameter of a mobiletelecommunication terminal on-line through a SMS.

In one preferred method for changing the performance controllingparameter of a mobile telecommunication terminal, the parameter of themobile telecommunication terminal is changed by using an SMS messageincluding a parameter relevant to the performance controlling of themobile telecommunication terminal and a password for a certificationwith a destination mobile telecommunication terminal.

According to another preferred embodiment, a value for changing theperformance controlling parameter is preferably included to a specialfield among short message formats of the mobile telecommunicationterminal.

According to another preferred embodiment, a method for changing aperformance controlling parameter of a mobile telecommunicationterminal, including receiving a short message service (SMS) message,including a password of a mobile telecommunication terminal and aperformance controlling parameter of the mobile telecommunicationterminal to be changed, storing the performance controlling parameter inthe mobile telecommunication terminal, and applying the performancecontrolling parameter to the mobile telecommunication terminal.

According to another preferred embodiment, a method for changing aperformance controlling parameter of a mobile telecommunicationterminal, including receiving a short message service (SMS) message bythe mobile telecommunication terminal, wherein a value for changing theperformance controlling parameter is included as a special field amongSMS message formats of the mobile telecommunication terminal, andincluding the performance controlling parameter as a parameter of themobile telecommunication terminal.

According to another preferred embodiment, A short message service (SMS)message including a CHARi field, configured to contain a performancecontrolling parameter value to be provided to a mobile communicationterminal to modify an operation of the mobile telecommunicationterminal, and a MSG-ENCODING field, to indicate a kind of code used inthe CHARi field.

To achieve at least the above objects in whole or in parts, there isprovided a method for changing a performance controlling parameter of amobile telecommunication terminal including receiving a short messageincluding a password of the mobile telecommunication terminal and aperformance controlling parameter to be changed, storing the performancecontrolling parameter in the mobile telecommunication terminal, andapplying the performance controlling parameter to the mobiletelecommunication terminal.

Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will beset forth in part in the description which follows and in part willbecome apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art uponexamination of the following or may be learned from practice of theinvention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realizedand attained as particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described in detail with reference to thefollowing drawings in which like reference numerals refer to likeelements wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a constriction of a related art SMS system of ageneral mobile telecommunication terminal;

FIG. 2 illustrates a definition of an SMS protocol of the general mobiletelecommunication terminal;

FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C illustrate a short message type of a mobiletelecommunication terminal according to a first preferred embodiment;

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate the short message type of a mobiletelecommunication terminal according to a second preferred embodiment;and

FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating a method for changing a performancecontrolling parameter of a mobile telecommunication terminal accordingto the preferred embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made to the preferred embodiments of the presentinvention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings.

The preferred embodiments provide a system and method to changeparameters which control a performance of a mobile telecommunicationterminal by an SMS message. Thus, when the performance of a mobiletelecommunication terminal is required to be changed, for example, dueto a change of the mobile telecommunication system or when theperformance controlling parameter is required to be changed by themobile telecommunication provider or the mobile telecommunicationterminal manufacturer, a corresponding parameter of the mobiletelecommunication terminal is preferably changed on line using an SMSmessage. At this time, a related art type SMS message is used as much aspossible, and only necessary several types are defined newly.

FIG. 2 illustrates a definition of an SMS protocol of the general mobiletelecommunication terminal. The protocol represents a regulation betweenthe mobile telecommunication terminal and a message center.

As shown in FIG. 2, performances for the SMS are realized at the mobiletelecommunication terminal 10 and the message center 20. A base station15 provides a connection between the mobile telecommunication terminal10 and the message center 20. By the connecting through the basestation, the SMS message can be transmitted to the base station which isproviding a current service by being forwarded even in a circumstancesuch as a hand off.

That is, when a user edits a prescribed message, an SMS tele-servicelayer transmits values having additional attributes with the messageinputted by the user to the SMS transmission layer. The SMS transmissionlayer adds a destination address and information about whether aresponse is required or not to the SMS transmission layer, and providesthe message to a SMS intermediate layer. A message transmitted from theSMS transmission layer to the SMS intermediate layer is called atransmission layer message. As above, the transmission layer messagetransmitted to the SMS intermediate layer is transmitted to the basestation 15 through a link layer.

FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C illustrate a first preferred embodiment of an SMSmessage type of a mobile telecommunication terminal, which re-definesnecessary parts so that the SMS message can be used to change aperformance controlling parameter in a sub-parameter of the transmissionlayer message.

In this example, a wireless messaging tele-service corresponding to arelated art tele-service and an SMS point-to-point service amongtransmission layer message types are used in the short message accordingto this preferred embodiment. It should be understood that otheralternatives could be used.

FIG. 3A illustrates a user data format represented in TIA/EIA-637-Asection 4.5.2, which is incorporated herein by reference.

SUBPARAMETER_ID is a sub-parameter identifier and this field ispreferably set as ‘00000001’. SUBPARAM_LEN is a length of thesub-parameter, which is expressed as 8 bits, except the SUBPARAMETER_IDand the SUBPARAM_LEN. MSG_ENCODING denotes a kind of a message encoding.For example, ‘00000’ indicates an octet and ‘10000’ indicates Korean.NUM_FIELDS denotes a length of CHARi field, and the CHARi includesletters corresponding to a message.

In the user data format, if the MSG_ENCODING field is the octet(‘00000’) and the first octet of the CHARi is a special letter byte(e.g. 0×00), which preferably indicates a parameter change, contentscorresponding to the parameter change of the mobile telecommunicationterminal are included as formats of FIG. 3B from the second octet of theCHARi. However, except for cases relative to the parameter change of themobile telecommunication terminal, a TIA/EIA-637-A definition isapplied.

The SUBPARAMETER_ID of FIG. 3B preferably has a parameter ID like thatof FIG. 3C with respect to the parameter change of the mobiletelecommunication terminal.

A password is preferably provided to prevent anyone except an authorizedperson from gaining access to the parameter change of the mobiletelecommunication terminal. Accordingly, when the mobiletelecommunication terminal receives a short message relevant to theparameter change of the mobile telecommunication terminal, acertification process is preferably performed using the password.

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrates a second preferred embodiment of the shortmessage type of a mobile telecommunication terminal. According to thisembodiment, the short message defines not only a tele-service, which isdefined at the TIA/EIA-637-A section 3.4.3.1-1, but also a newtele-service relevant to the performance controlling parameter change.Also, the short message preferably adds sub-parameters of FIG. 4 toharrier data shown in the TIA/EIA-637-A section 3.4.3.7 in order totransmit the performance controlling parameter.

The SUBPARAMETER_ID of FIG. 4A preferably requires a password to accessto the parameter change of the mobile telecommunication terminal likeFIG. 4B with respect to the parameter change of the mobiletelecommunication terminal.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating a method for changing a performancecontrolling parameter of a mobile telecommunication terminal accordingto a preferred embodiment.

First, a parameter to be changed is inputted to the short message formatof the mobile telecommunication terminal, thereby setting the changeparameter (step S1). Additionally, a password for certifying thecorresponding mobile telecommunication terminal at the time of theparameter change may also be provided at this time. The password notonly limits access to a prescribed user to perform to the parameterchange, but also determines whether the mobile telecommunicationterminal that transmitted the short message is a mobiletelecommunication terminal of which a parameter has to be changed. Thatis, since each mobile telecommunication terminal is provided with itsown password, when the performance controlling parameter of the specialmobile telecommunication terminal is changed, a password correspondingto the mobile telecommunication terminal is preferably transmitted withthe short message.

The SMS point-to-point message, including the changed parameters, isthen transmitted to a prescribed mobile telecommunication terminal (stepS2). Then, the corresponding object mobile telecommunication terminalextracts the password inputted to the performance controlling passwordfield of the received SMS message and certifies the password (step S3).

Next, it is determined whether the password is correct (step S4). If thepassword inputted to the performance controlling password field isidentical to that set in the receiving mobile telecommunicationterminal, the SMS message including the performance controllingparameter is received by the object mobile telecommunication terminal.The performance controlling parameters transmitted through the SMSmessage are then stored in a corresponding memory address of the mobiletelecommunication terminal (step S5).

A new parameter stored in the memory is then applied to the currentmobile telecommunication terminal as is, or is applied after the mobiletelecommunication terminal is rebooted (step S6).

If, however, the password is not identical to that of the mobiletelecommunication terminal, it is determined that the mobiletelecommunication terminal should not receive the short message. Theshort message is thereby abandoned (step S7).

The system and method for providing a performance controlling parameteras described herein has many advantages. For example, as a method forchanging the performance controlling parameter of the mobiletelecommunication terminal, both the SMS point-to-point service and thebroadcasting service which controls a performance at a time by using abroadcasting message for the mobile telecommunication terminal havingthe same parameter change software therein are possible.

Also, when a recall is required after determining that a mobiletelecommunication terminal has a problem in the performance controllingpart, an entity such as the mobile telecommunication terminalmanufacturing company can change the performance controlling parameterthrough the short message. The performance controlling error of themobile telecommunication terminal can thus be easily removed withoutrequiring off line service.

Accordingly, in the method for changing the performance controllingparameter of the mobile telecommunication terminal according to thepreferred embodiment, the parameters relevant to controlling theperformance of the mobile telecommunication terminal can be changedthrough the short message, thereby enabling on-line A/S and reducing acost generated by off-line A/S.

Moreover, in the method for changing the performance controllingparameter of the mobile telecommunication terminal according to thepreferred embodiment, the parameters relevant to controlling theperformance of the mobile telecommunication terminal can be upgradedeven when the user cannot recognize the need, or even without the usertaking action, thereby improving the user's convenience and reducing amanagement cost for the mobile telecommunication terminal, for exampleby the manufacturing company.

The foregoing embodiments and advantages are merely exemplary and arenot to be construed as limiting the present invention. The presentteaching can be readily applied to other types of apparatuses. Thedescription of the present invention is intended to be illustrative, andnot to limit the scope of the claims. Many alternatives, modifications,and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. In theclaims, means-plus-function clauses are intended to cover the structuresdescribed herein as performing the recited function and not onlystructural equivalents but also equivalent structures.

1. A method of performance upgrading for a receiving terminal,comprising: generating information related to at least one parameter forthe performance upgrading within the receiving terminal, wherein theinformation is included in a short message service (SMS) message of amessaging service for the receiving terminal; transmitting the SMSmessage, including the information, using the messaging service to thereceiving terminal; and upgrading performance of the receiving terminalby changing at least one parameter stored within the receiving terminalbased on the SMS message transmitted to the receiving terminal, whereinthe information within the SMS message includes a value used forcertifying the performance upgrading within the receiving terminal, andthe at least one parameter is changed when the value included in theinformation is identical to a previously stored value within thereceiving terminal or a value inputted by a user of the receivingterminal.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the value comprises apassword.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the value is at least one ofa password, key value, and a security code.
 4. The method of claim 1,wherein the value is pre-set in each terminal.
 5. The method of claim 1,wherein the SMS message of the messaging service is discarded when thevalue included in the information is not identical to the previouslystored value within the receiving terminal or the value inputted by theuser.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one parameter isused for a software upgrading within the receiving terminal.
 7. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the value is used for certifying a sender ofthe message.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the information isincluded in a certain field of the SMS message.
 9. A method ofperformance upgrading for a receiving terminal, comprising: receiving amessage of a messaging service via a network, wherein the message of themessaging service includes information related to at least one parameterfor the performance upgrading of the receiving terminal; comparing apassword within the received message with a previously stored value in amemory of the receiving terminal; storing the received message andchanging the at least one parameter within the receiving terminal basedon the received information within the message; and upgrading aperformance of the receiving terminal based on the changed at least oneparameter stored within the receiving terminal, wherein the upgrading isperformed only when the password within the received message isidentical to the previously stored value in the memory.
 10. The methodof claim 9, further comprising: by a sending terminal before receivingthe message: forming the message by inputting a performance controllingparameter to be changed into a performance controlling parameter fieldof the message and by inputting a key value corresponding to thereceiving terminal to a performance controlling key value field of themessage; and transmitting the formed message to the receiving terminal.11. The method of claim 9, wherein the information includes the passwordfor certifying the performance upgrading within the receiving terminal.12. The method of claim 9, wherein the received message is discardedwhen the password included in the information is not identical to thepreviously stored value within the receiving terminal.
 13. The method ofclaim 11, wherein the information is included in a certain field of themessage.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the certain fieldcomprises: a first sub-field to contain a performance controllingparameter to be changed; and a second sub-field to denote a kind ofcodes inputted to the first sub-field.
 15. The method of claim 14,wherein a sub-parameter of the first sub-field comprises: a performancecontrolling key value field where the password is inputted; and aperformance controlling parameter field where the performancecontrolling parameter value to be changed is inputted.
 16. The method ofclaim 14, wherein the first sub-field is inputted by an octet unit. 17.The method of claim 14, wherein a prescribed byte that notifies a changeof the performance controlling parameter is inputted in a first octet ofthe first sub-field and a change value for the performance controllingparameter is inputted to a second octet.
 18. A mobile communicationapparatus, comprising: a transceiver to transmit and receive data; amemory to store the data from the transceiver or from an externalsource; and a processor cooperating with the transceiver and the memoryto perform: receiving a message of a messaging service via a network,wherein the message of the messaging service includes informationrelated to at least one parameter for the performance upgrading within areceiving terminal, comparing a password within the received messagewith a value input by a user of the receiving terminal, storing thereceived message and changing the at least one parameter within thereceiving terminal based on the received information within the message;and upgrading a performance of the receiving terminal based on thechanged at least one parameter stored within the receiving terminal,wherein the upgrading is performed only when the password is identicalto the value input by the user of the receiving terminal.
 19. A methodfor changing a performance controlling parameter of a mobiletelecommunication terminal, comprising: receiving a message from anetwork, wherein the message includes a key value of a mobiletelecommunication terminal and a new performance controlling parameterof the mobile telecommunication terminal to be changed, wherein the keyvalue is used to certify a sender of the message; storing the key valueand the new performance controlling parameter in a memory of the mobiletelecommunication terminal; replacing a previously stored performancecontrolling parameter of the mobile telecommunication terminal with thenew performance controlling parameter of the mobile telecommunicationterminal only when the stored key value corresponds to a previouslyinput password; and controlling a performance of the mobiletelecommunication terminal based on the new performance controllingparameter stored in the memory.
 20. A method comprising: receiving ashort message service (SMS) message at a receiving terminal, thereceived SMS message including a password and control information;comparing the password within the received message with a previouslystored password in a memory of the receiving terminal; and controlling aparameter of the receiving terminal without a user taking action basedon the received control information within the received SMS message,wherein controlling the parameter includes: rebooting the receivingterminal after the comparing; and upgrading a performance of thereceiving terminal based on the parameter after rebooting the receivingterminal.
 21. The method of claim 20, wherein controlling the parameteroccurs only when the password within the received SMS messagecorresponds to the previously stored password in the memory.
 22. Themethod of claim 20, further comprising storing the parameter in thememory of the receiving terminal based on the received controlinformation.
 23. The method of claim 20, further comprising discardingthe SMS message when the password included in the SMS message is notidentical to the previously stored password within the memory.
 24. Amobile communication apparatus, comprising: a transceiver to transmitand receive data; a memory to store the data from the transceiver orfrom an external source; and a processor cooperating with thetransceiver and the memory to perform: receiving a short message service(SMS) message, the received SMS message including a password and controlinformation; comparing the password within the received message with apreviously stored password in the memory; and controlling a parameter ofthe mobile communication apparatus without a user taking action based onthe received control information within the received SMS message,wherein controlling the parameter includes: rebooting the mobilecommunication apparatus after the comparing; and upgrading a performanceof the mobile communication apparatus based on the parameter afterrebooting the mobile communication apparatus.
 25. The apparatus of claim24, wherein controlling the parameter occurs only when the passwordwithin the received SMS message corresponds to the previously storedpassword in the memory.
 26. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein theparameter is stored in the memory based on the received controlinformation.
 27. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the SMS message isdiscarded when the password included in the SMS message is not identicalto the previously stored password within the memory.